Loyal Queen Camilla is expected to fulfill her royal duties and support her husband following the king’s cancer diagnosis.
Camilla was the eldest member of the royal family to carry out commissions and it is understood that everyone will continue with a full program of public engagements while the King takes some time off.
Queen Camilla and Prince William are two leading members of the royal family who are expected to take on more royal duties as needed, although Prince William has recently stepped down to care for his wife, Princess Kate, following her abdominal surgery.
Camilla has had a busy week, carrying out several royal engagements while her husband recovered at home after leaving the London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales was also recovering.
Mother-of-three Kate, 41, needs time to recover from a planned abdominal operation earlier this month and is not expected to return to her royal duties until after Easter.
As a result, Prince William also postponed his royal duties for a short time to be there for Kate and their three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five.
With three working royals out of action, Queen Camilla has led the royal charge as the highest-ranking royal currently conducting orders.
King Charles and Queen Camilla wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace
Queen Camilla will visit a cancer support center in London on January 31
Queen Camilla at a royal engagement in Cambridge on February 2
Buckingham Palace announced in a statement this evening that King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer.
They said the 75-year-old monarch has returned to London from Sandringham to begin treatment immediately.
It is not related to his recent surgery and is not prostate cancer, but doctors noticed it when he underwent his medical procedure for an enlarged prostate.
Queen Camilla had since continued to make public engagements, telling the public that her husband was “doing well” and looking forward to returning to work.
Last Tuesday, she told well-wishers that he was “doing well” and “doing his best,” adding, “Thank God!”
Her schedule has been packed since she took on additional assignments.
Last Friday, February 2, Camilla performed a royal engagement at the newly opened Meadows Community Center in Cambridge. She smiled and waved to fans as they lined the streets to see her.
A day earlier, Queen Camilla attended the 850th anniversary of the St John’s Foundation and a celebration service at Bath Abbey.
On Tuesday she hosted a reception at Windsor Castle for authors, illustrators and binders who have been involved in the Miniature Library’s new collection, on display next to Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House.
Queen Camilla at a royal engagement in Bath on February 1
Queen Camilla addresses guests during a reception at Windsor Castle on January 30
Queen Camilla will meet residents of the St John’s Foundation in Bath on February 1
Queen Camilla next to King Charles as he leaves the London Clinic on January 29
King Charles and Queen Camilla looked cheerful as they walked to St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate
Buckingham Palace said in a statement this evening: ‘During The King’s recent hospital procedure for a benign prostate enlargement, a separate area of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests identified a form of cancer.
“His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public duties. During this period, His Majesty will continue to conduct state affairs and official paperwork as usual.
‘The King is grateful to his medical team for their quick intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains completely positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to his full public role as soon as possible.
“His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to avoid speculation and in the hope that it can increase public understanding for everyone around the world affected by cancer.”
Following his diagnosis, other senior members of the royal family, including Queen Camilla and heir apparent Prince William, are expected to take on more royal duties if necessary.
Prince William had originally scaled back his royal duties to care for Princess Kate as she recovers from her abdominal surgery.
Buckingham Palace has said the King is pleased that openness about his recent prostate surgery has raised awareness.
Although the Palace has said the King has not been diagnosed with prostate cancer, NHS England said they saw a rise in visits to their prostate enlargement pages following the King’s visit to the London Clinic earlier this year.
The king’s diagnosis will raise serious questions for the running of the monarchy, with lower-ranking members of the royal family and the Princess of Wales out of action for what has only been described as ‘abdominal surgery’ until after Easter.
The Prince of Wales, the heir apparent, had cleared his diary to be by his wife’s side and keep life as normal as possible for their three children.
However, Kensington Palace announced earlier today that he would resume his public duties this week by holding an investiture at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, followed by a gala fundraising event for the London Air Ambulance in the evening.